Heddle



R. MARX Oct. 24, 1933.

HEDDLE Filed July 25, 1951 Patented Oct.V 24, 1933 UNiTED YSTATES PATENT OFFECE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to the heddles used in textile looms, and more particularly carpet looms, for raising and lowering the warp threads in forming the warp sheds through which the shuttles pass in carrying the weft threads across the warp during the weaving operation.

The warp is usually divided into sections of from two to seven pattern threads each, depending upon the character of the fabric and the nature of the design to be formed on the front, back, or both faces of the fabric. In some instances, asin carpets, each warp section also includes stuier and binder warps in addition to the pattern warps.

The threads constituting each warp section all extendV through a single dent or slot in the reed of the loom, which tends to crowd the threads of each warp section closely together.

Each pattern warp thread is controlled by a separate harness cord which in turny is under control of the jacquard mechanism of the loom, for selectively raising one or more warp threads in each section to form a predetermined design or pattern in the fabric. In the case of carpets, the stuffer and binder warps are usually7 controlled by heddle frames independent of the jacquard mechanism.

Each harness cord is connected at its lower end to the upper end of a heddle and the heddle is provided, intermediate its ends, with an eye through which a single warp thread passes, the lower end of the heddle being connected to a lingo which functions to carry the warp thread down to a normal low position when the harness cord is released by the jacquard mechanism and to retain the warp thread in such low position while adjacent threads are being raised.

The ordinary heddle primarily consists of a at metal piece having an opening intermediate its ends which, as above noted, functions as the eye through which the warp thread passes, the flat eyepieces normally, or theoretically, assuming a position in a plane at right angles to the warp thread, to permit free passage of the thread through the eye. y

As the jacquard mechanism operates to raise the selected threads the eyepieces, controlling the selected threads, are required to pass through the closely bunched warp threads, which causes the outer edges of the eyepieces to rub and chate the warp threads with which they engage. The eyepiece alsotends to turn about a vertical axis into a plane substantially parallel to the warp threads, in passing through the closely bunched warp threads, which causes the edges of the eye openings to rub and chafe the thread passing therethrough and causing the thread to become more or less locked to and kinked at the eye, thus retarding the passage of the thread through .60 the eye and frequently causing the Veyepiece to be moved out of its normal hanging position, especially when a knot in the yarn is encountered, with respect to the other adjacently disposed eyepieces.

When the eyepieces are raised clear of the adjacent threads they again assume their normal positions substantially at right angles to the warp threads and when the harness cords are released to permit the selected warp threads to assume their normal low positions, under the influence of the lingos, it frequently occurs that the eyepieces do not pass through the hunched warps but lie onv top of the warp threads due to the lingos not being able'to draw the perviously selected warp threads down through the closely bunched warp threads to their normal low positions, thus these previously selected warp threads become slack and frequently are raised again by the upward movement of adjacent warps which have been subsequently selected, thereby causing imperfections in the design, termed` by weavers as marks. v

The Charing of the threads by the eyepieces creates and causes a rapidraccumulation of lint or fly on and around the necessarily closely positioned lingos and other associated parts of the loom, which is undesirable and frequently causes improper functioning of the loom elements, resulting in loss of time to clear the loom of such deposits.

In some instances the eyepieces are connected directly, at their upper ends7 to the harness cords, while inother cases the eyepieces are rigidly connected to heddle wires that extends abovethe highest position attained by the warp threads, the wires being thereconnected to the. harness cords tovobviatethe rubbing of the warp threads against the cords.

In some instances, the lower ends of the eyepieces are connected by cords to the lingos, while in other instances wires may form this connection, for a similar reason asnoted above in regard to the harness cord.

One object of the present invention is to construct each eyepiece in such a manner that it will readily pass through the closely bunched warp threads and thereby eliminate the makingY of marks in the fabric, as above noted.

Another object of the invention is to construct the eyepiece in such a manner that regardless of the plane of the eyepiece with respect to the warp thread passing through the eye of said piece no chang, locking or kinking of the thread will occur.

Another object of the invention is to construct the eyepiece in a manner to present the least possible resistance in its passage through the closely positioned warp threads.

Another object of .the invention is to provide a heddle assembly wherein the eyepiece and lingo vso are so connected and co-operative as to prevent the accumulation of fly on the lingos, etc.

And another object of the invention is to provide a heddle including the eyepiece, a harness cord wire extension, and a lingo wire connection, as an integral unit, devoid of shoulders or sharp edges which would tend to chafe or cut the warp threads or present any appreciable amount of resistance to the passage of the heddle through the closely bunched warp threads.

The construction and operation of the improved heddle forming the subject matter of the present application will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the heddle in a raised thread-selecting position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the heddle in a partially lowered position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan taken on the line 3 3, Fig. l, showing, in full lines, the eyepiece lin its normal position with respect to the warp thread passing through the eye, as in Fig. 1, and in dotted lines illustrating the relation of the eye with respect to the warp thread as the eyepiece passes through the closely bunched warp threads, as in Fig. 2; and

Fig. e is an enlargedperspective view of the eyepiece in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 with respect to the warp thread passing lthrough the eye. v

As illustrated in the drawing, the heddle assemblage comprises an eyepiece 10 to the upper end of which is rigidly connected, as for example by welding, the lower end of a harness cord extension in the form of a round wire 11 having a suitable loop or eye formed at its upper end for the reception of and connection with a harness cord 13.

To the lower end of the eyepiece 10 is rigidly connected the upper end or a wire 12, the lower end of which is suitably connected to a lingo 14. of usual construction, i. e. a round rod oi suitable diameter and having a length suicient to provide the weight necessary for the purpose intended.

The eyepiece 10 is composed of a piece of iiat relatively thin sheet metal of suicient width to allow for the provision therein of a suitable elongated opening 16 which constitutes the eye .for the reception of a warp thread y.

As shown in the drawing, the portions 10a. and 10b of the eyepiece disposed respectively above and below the eye 16 are integrally Vconnected by relatively narrow straps 17, 17 disposed respectively at the opposite sides of the elongated eye 16.

As noted above, the eyepiece 1G is adapted normally to assume a position at right angles to the thread y and the eye 16 is of sufficient width to permit free passage of the thread y therethrough in a direction at right angles to the plane of the eyepiece 10.

When the eyepiece l0 is raised and passes through the closely disposed warp threads, as noted above, the eyepiece 10 turns about a vertical aXis, a distance of substantially 90?, which in the ordinary fully flat'heddle eyepiece causes the sides of the eye opening `to frictionally en-Y gage the thread y and thereby prevent free passage of the thread through the eye.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this frictional engagement oi the side walls of the eye opening 16 with the warp thread passing therethrough is obviated by deflecting or bulging the straps 17, 17 in opposite directions outwardly from the plane of the eyepiece 10, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, until an opening 16a is provided in the direction of the plane of the eyepiece l0 which is substantially as wide as the normal opening 16 that extends in a direction at right angles to the plane of the eyepiece 10, therefore, regardless of the position of the plane of the eyepiece with respect to the warp thread passing through the eyepiece, within substantially a 90 rotary movement of the eyepiece relative to warp thread, sufficient clearance is `provided for the warp thread to permit of its free passage through the eye.

In order to facilitate the passage ci the eyepiece le through the closelyT hunched warp threads y1, it is essential that the eyepiece be presented to the said threads with the plane of the piece 10 substantially parallel to the threads y1 and that the least possible thickness be presented to the threads y1 as the eyepiece l0 passes between the said threads.

1n accordance with this principle the deflection or bulging of the straps 17, 17 is elongated and gradual in incline from the plane of the eyepiece 10 and being disposed at opposite sides of the opening 16 function as a screw which, as the eyepiece passes upwardly through warp threads y1, causes the eyepiece to rotate iirst in one direction about a vertical axis and then in an opposite direction, which at all times causes the eyepiece to present the least possible thickness to the threads y1 and an adequate opening 16---16av to the passage of the selected thread y through the eyepiece. f f l As the lower ends of the straps 17, 17 passout of the threads y1 the ilat portion 10b of the eyepiece 10 moves into engagement with the threads y1 which causes the eye opening 16a to be presented in the direction of the length of the warp threads y1.

The lower end of the flat portion 10b is twisted substantially 90, as indicated at 15, which provides another screw or spiral eiTect that causes a rotation oi the eyepiece 1G as it passes upwardly through the warp threads y1 upon continued vertical movement thereof, which presents the opening 16 in the direction or the length of the warp threads y1, thereby providing full free passage for the warp thread y through the eyepiece 10,

It will be noted that the upper and lower ends of the eyepiece le taper gradually from the straps 17, 17 toward the wires' 11 and 12V respectively, so that no shoulders are presented that would iro tend to catch in the threads y1 upon upward or downward movement of the eyepiece 10.

When the eyepiece 10 passes completely out of the threads 1/1 to a position thereabove and subsequently descends, upon release oi the harness cord 13 by the jacquard mechanism of the loom .under the influence of the lingoA 14, the spirali portion l5 of the eyepiece lil re-enters the threads y1 and gives the eyepiece 10a circular movement in the opposite direction to that received during the last part of its upward stroke, the flat portion leb then' enters the threads y1, ollowedby the @isc or less rapidly the ily or lint settling on the lingo will be thrown therefrom by centrifugal force, or the oscillations of the lingo will prevent the fly from settling on the lingo or adhering thereto.

I claim:

1. A heddle eye having a transversely extending thread opening providing for unrestricted passage of a thread along any line in or intermediate right angle planes intersecting at and extending radially from the longitudinal center of the heddle eye, a lingo attached to said heddle eye, and means for rotating said heddle eye and said lingo relative to the thread passing through said opening.

2. A heddle eye having a transversely extending thread opening providing for unrestricted passage of a thread along any line in or intermediate right angle planes intersecting at extending radially from the longitudinal center of the heddle eye, a lingo` attached to said heddle eye, and means on said heddle eye arranged to co-operate with threads adjacently disposed with respect to that passing through said opening, for rotating said heddle eye and said lingo relative to said threads.

3. A heddle eye having a transversely extending thread opening providing for unrestricted passage of a thread along any line in or intermediate right angle planes intersecting at and extending radially from the longitudinal center of the heddle eye, a lingo attached to said heddle eye, and means on said heddle eye arranged to co-operate with threads adjaeently disposed with respect to that passing through said opening, for oscillating said `heddle eye and said lingo upon movement of said heddle eye in a di rection substantially perpendicular to said threads.

4. A heddle eye comprising a plate having a transversely extending thread opening providing for unrestricted passage of a thread along any line in or intermediate right angle planes intersecting at and extending radially from the longitudinal center of the heddle eye, a lingo attached to said heddle eye,` and projections extending outwardly in opposite directions from the plane of the plate at the opposite side edges thereof respectively and arranged to co-operate with threads adjacently disposed with respect to that passing through said opening, for oscillating the heddle eye and the lingo upon movement of the heddle eye between said threads in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto.

5. A heddle eye comprising a plate having a transversely extending thread opening providing for unrestricted passage of a thread along any line in or intermediate right angle planes intersecting at and extending radially from'the longitudinal center oi the heddle eye, a lingo attached to said heddle eye, and projections di.,- posed adjacent to said opening and forming the side walls thereof, said projections extending outwardly in opposite directions from the plane of the plate at the opposite side edges thereof res ectively and arranged to (zo-operate with threads adjacently disposed with respect to that passing through said opening, for oscillating the heddle eye and the lingo upon .movement of the heddle eye between said threads in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto.

6. A heddle eye comprising a plate having a transversely extending thread opening providing for unrestricted passage of a thread along any line in or intermediate right angle planes intersecting at and extending radially from the longitudinal center of the heddle eye, a lingo attached to said heddle eye, projections extending outwardly in opposite directions from the plane of the plate at the opposite side edges thereof respectively, and a spiral projection on one end of said heddle eye, said projections being arranged to co-operate with threads adj acently disposed with respect to that passing through said opening, for oscillating the heddle eye and the lingo upon movement of the heddle eye between said threads in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto.

7 A heddle eye comprising a plate apertured in a manner to produce a thread opening and straps at opposite sides or said opening respectively, said straps being oppositely deflected from the plane or the plate, the plate adjacent one end of the opening being twisted about its longitudinal axis to predetermined extent.

8. A heddle eye comprising a plate apertured in a manner to produce an opening for unrestricted passage of a thread therethrough in a direction at right angles to the plane of the plate and longitudinally extending straps at opposite sides of said opening, said straps being oppositely deflected from the plane of the plate to provide for unrestricted passage of the thread through the opening in a direction coincident with the plane of the plate, the plate at one end thereof being twisted circumferentially for co-action with a group of threads through which it passes, whereby the plate is rotated from a normal position in which the apertured portion thereof extends transversely with relation to the threads to a position wherein the said apertured portion is disposed substantially parallel to said threads.

9. A heddle and lingo assembly including a spirally twisted plate co-acting with the warp threads oi a loomL to cause rotation of said lingo.

le. A heddle and lingo assembly including a spira-ily twisted plate co-acting with the warp threads of a loom to cause rotation of the assembly, the heddle including a thread opening formed to provide for unobstructed passage of one oi said threads through said opening in the direction of the warp throughout such rotation.

11. A-heddle and lingo assembly adapted to be raised and lowered through the warp threads' of a loom and including a plate for co-action with said threads, said plate in one position having a portion thereof adjacent the warp threads disposed with its flat faces in the general direction of extension of the warp threads, said plate being twisted whereby during its passage through the warp threads, the heddle and lingo assembly is rotated. l

12. A heddle and lingo assembly adapted to be raised and lowered through the warp threads in a loom, said assembly including a plate for coaction with said warp threads, said plate in one position having a portion adjacent the yarn disposed with its at faces in the general direction of extension of the warp threads, said plate being twisted whereby during its passage through the.

RICHARD MARX. 

